News / planning
Rees: ‘I am not a spectator in Bristol’s development’
Bristol mayor Marvin Rees has insisted “there is no evidence to suggest the planning service at Bristol City Council is anything but impartial”.
The mayor’s comments came as a response to a petition which claims Bristol’s planning system is “failing”, after a number of controversial planning decisions led to concerns about lobbying, and improper influence.
The petition has so far amassed more than 3,700 signatures and was debated at a full council meeting.
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Responding to the debate, the mayor said the planning authority was independent from his cabinet, and he was not responsible for its decision making.
He also said he was not a “spectator” to the development of Bristol, and instead pushed planning applications which matched the administration’s aims for the city.
Bristol City Council has been accused of lobbying and improper influence by campaigner Suzanne Audrey, who launched a petition in August 2023 after a shock U-turn to grant developers permission to knock down Broadwalk Shopping Centre in Knowle to make way for 850 homes.
It was later revealed that there had been alleged collusion between the developer, the mayor’s office and the chair of the Development Control A Committee, Richard Eddy, to overturn a unanimous decision to refuse planning permission.
A decision to approve the sale of Brislington Meadows to Homes England, and grant the expansion of a cemetery onto Yew Tree Farm was also criticised for going against the council’s ecology aims in its Local Plan.
Accusations of bullying were levelled at the mayor’s cabinet in August last year after the Green Party called for Bristol Rovers’ new stand to be considered by a planning committee.
Most recently, a Green councillor chairing a development committee chose to seek legal advice after accusations by Bristol Labour of racism by a member of the public gallery.
Rees said: “Bristol City Council as a (local planning authority) is independent of the administration, and we are not responsible for its decision making.
“As directly elected mayor I am not a spectator in the development of the city.
“My office and I work hard to push the planning applications which come forward to match our aims and aspirations for the city.
“There is no evidence to suggest the planning service at Bristol City Council is anything but impartial.”
Main photo: Rob Browne
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